Outreach Clinics: A New Definition of Rural

Yesterday I returned from three days of outreach clinics “in the bush.” These areas are so remote that I have a new definition of “rural.” For example, one of our clinics got broken up because a herd of ELEPHANTS came storming through! Ha, crazy. Below, a view of a Masai "boma" (village) as we were about to land:

With the same volunteer pilot service that I flew with a couple of weeks ago, Maiken and I headed out to Masai land to give vaccinations, do OB prenatal visits, and treat as many patients as we could.

Above, one of the clinic huts with Masai patients waiting outside.

Below, me giving vaccinations.

Masai boys next to one of the clinic huts.

We brought a suitcase full of medicines and vaccines and set up shop on a little portable folding table:

Our pharmacy-in-a-suitcase:

Sweet bubbas.

It’s a great system: if the village will build and maintain a runway (aka a dirt strip free of trees) and a clinic hut (aka the mud and sticks pictured above), then our little plane will arrive every two weeks and provide medical care. Below, the plane on the "runway" with goats and kids everywhere:

Masai kids with the clinic hut in the background.

In three days, we flew to seven different villages and had 40-50 patients at each one…it was exhausting! Below, moms lined up with their babies:

Above, a picnic lunch by the plane with Ezra, the pilot,

and Barnabus, the local doctor (who looks like he's twelve).

We gave a couple Masai men our Coke bottles...

remember the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy"?

I loved practicing such old-fashioned medicine. No fancy labs or imaging…we just relied on our clinical skills and a few simple medications.

Probably the most hilarious part was weighing the babies:

You can see this kid is not happy...I mean, we've got him hanging in a harness from a scale used to weigh fruits! I was so worried that one of the kids would fall, especially when we hung the scale from a janky tree branch:

Another thing that would only happen in Africa: we were given a goat as a thank you from the village. Below, Maiken in the exam room with the goat (we named him Gerald).

Poor Gerald got loaded into the bottom of the plane so we could take him home! He was pretty freaked out when we landed. Hilarious.

It was quite rewarding that the families at all of the clinics were so appreciative. They were also adorable. My favorite family was this grandmother, her daughter, and her two granddaughters:

P.s. I totally wanted to take this one home!

Overall, an incredible experience. Below, the sunset at one of the clinics:

The Circus

The circus is in Arusha! Apparently, the show hasn’t been through here in 30 years, so everyone is pretty riled up. We heard from some friends that it was worth going, and they were right:

A pic of us outside the circus tent.

Crazy strong men!

The show is called “Mama Africa,” and was really more like Cirque du Soleil than a circus. Although, there were some pretty freakish acts…

Right after this picture, this insanely flexible guy lit a pipe in his mouth with his FEET.

Some ridiculous acrobats (more balancing on their heads!):

Maiken and Katie both got called up on stage:

Maiken with the jugglers

Katie in a rock band

Overall, totally entertaining!

Hospice fundraiser choir concert

So, I am in the church choir...sort of hilarious, I know. They needed a top soprano, how could I resist? It is actually lots of fun, because "church choir" in Africa means drums and dances and cool rhythms. Yesterday was a big fundraiser concert for the hospice program at Selian (the hospital I work at). It was spectacular, hundreds of people from choirs across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda met up to sing and raise money for the program. First, we all walked outside and did this awesome procession into the church:

Somehow they all knew the words to this beautiful Swahili song.

Below, a picture of some of the choir members and me in our sweet choir polos:

From left: Chrisanne (Med/Peds resident from MN), Jennie (occupational therapist from Australia), Linda Jacobson (Dr. Jacobson's wife, who has lived in Arusha for 25 years), and me.

The best choir of the day was the "Girls Choir Makumira":

Of course, they're adorable too.